eunjin
i made a new chat

eunjin
soyi girl i felt so bad for you 😭
those boys have no chill

soyi
IM SO EMBARRASSED

soyi
i feel like a harlet or smth like
ALL I DID WAS FALL ASLEEP
ON A COUCH LEAVE ME
ALONEEE

eunjin
how'd chenle take it ??

soyi
bye he blew my phone up before
i explained that i wasn't kidnapped????
cause apparently he was gonna start
interviewing members 😭

eunjin
he's so whipped omg

soyi
no pls that's just bff chenle he's
always been dramatic like that

lin
i think protective fits better

eunjin
or jealous 🤭

soyi
🫣 you girls...

yuxi
THE ONEEE TIME I SLEEP IN
OMG I FELT SO BAD 😭😭

yuxi
jaehyun's gf is so fine tho like
you guys Don't understand

yuxi
OMG YALL WAIT can we add miles?

eunjin
but this is the ladies room..

yuxi
but he IS a lady. MY lady 🙁

yuxi
AND HE'LL TALK BOYS WITH US

lin
i don't see why not. i love miles!

eunjin
if my lover agrees, who am i to say no

lin
😚😚

yuxi
HOORAY

yuxi added miles to the chat!

yuxi
he's working rn but he'll
respond when he's off!

soyi
does jaemin ever get jealous
of your love?

lin
he knows his place

yuxi
and jeno?

eunjin
what about jeno?

yuxi
............ 🤭

eunjin
GIRL??

yuxi
HES INTO YOU

yuxi
and isn't exactly subtle about it

eunjin
no i know but like

eunjin
IDK WE GREW UP TOGETHER

yuxi
CHILDHOOD FRIENDS
TO LOVERS 👩‍❤️‍💋‍👨

soyi
jiae and haechan, jaemin and lin

lin
you and chenle

soyi
🫠

eunjin
speaking of, where IS jiae??

jiae
im so pathetic
i miss you

haechan
we haven't even boarded yet 😭

haechan
but i miss you too

haechan
did you like hanging out
with hyeyeong?

jiae
yesss it was nice 😔

jiae
i miss youuu

haechan
you said that already sunshine 💛💛

jiae
UGH ITS TRUE 😫😫

jiae
i'm having hyuck withdrawals 💔

jiae
this is the end... of rhee jiae...

haechan
oh how the fans (me) will mourn

jiae
😒

haechan
you're so cute when you 😒

jiae
🙄

haechan
awwwww

jiae
STOPPP

Incoming call from h-man 🧸
accept | decline

"what are you doing?" jiae asked through her painfully large smile, her fingers playing with the ends of her ponytail.

she could hear the sounds of the airport through the phone. children talking, wheels turning beneath suitcases, announcements being called over intercoms. all of that faded away when she was met with a soft, sweet hum from her boyfriend.

"indulging you," he sighed, and jiae could hear him smiling through his words.

she chuckled, allowing herself to sink further into her couch cushions. she looked over and saw the note he'd left for her after their first kiss. jiae's chest filled with warmth at the memory. "you're such a tease. hearing your voice only makes me miss you more."

"sorry about that, sunshine," he teased back, and jiae could hear ruffling in the background.

"are you getting ready to board?" she asked. as much as she liked to joke with him, she really didn't want haechan to hang up. she wished he could stay at be with her.

jiae heard him sigh on the other line. "yeah. i'll have to go soon..." he paused for a moment. "i wish you were here with me."

maybe it was because it was that time of the month for her, but jiae felt tears prick the backs of her eyes. she turned her head away from the speaker and sucked in a deep, silent breath before pulling the phone back to her lips. "i wish i was there too, baby."

she heard him say something on the other line, but it clearly wasn't for her. a moment later, his attention returned to her. "my section was just called. i'll call you when we land, okay?"

jiae fought the urge to sniffle. "yeah, of course. have a safe flight."

hyuck paused on the other line, and jiae could feel the tension between them, even though they were miles apart. the words lingered on her lips, and she could tell he wanted to say them as well.

he sighed. "i'm not gonna let the first 'i love you' be said over the phone. as your biggest fan, i think you deserve better than that."

"oh, for sure," jiae managed through a laugh. "now you have to hurry. i'm a very impatient woman."

again, she could hear the smile in her boyfriend's voice as he spoke. "okay, i really have to go now. but just know that i'm thinking those words right now. i'll be thinking them the whole time i'm here."

jiae's chest ached. "i'll be thinking it, too. now go, don't let me keep you."

they finished saying goodbye, and jiae hung up the phone. it had only been seconds and she already missed him.

god. i'm down terrible for him, she mentally scolded herself.

huffing a sigh, jiae placed her phone on the cushion next to her and ran both hands through her hair. it was time for another dye, and she was thinking about surprising hyuck by getting orange. she thought matching with him would make him hate the color a little less.

a ding pulled her from her thoughts, and jiae glanced to the side to look at her phone. when she saw the screen, her stomach dropped.

unknown
did you really think getting a
new number would work?

unknown
we already know where you are, jiae

jiae
yeonwoo?

unknown
hey jiae

unknown
long time no see

jiae
if you come close to me i'll
have you fucking arrested

unknown
actually, your restraining order
expired two hours ago :)

unknown
see you soon little sister

Calling hye 💜...

Calling hye 💜...

Your call cannot be completed—

Calling sosuke 🐙...

Calling sosuke 🐙...

Your call cannot b—

Calling minsu 😾

"hello?"

jiae's panic sept into her words as she choked out his name. "minsu?"

there was ruffling on the other line, and she could tell minsu was sitting up. "jiae? what's wrong?"

"i—" she stumbled over her tongue and pressed a strong palm against her chest. she could feel her heart hammering against her ribs. "i need you to come over. i wouldn't als if this wasn't an emergency, and i can't reach anyone el—"

he cut her off. "stop. what's your address? i'll be over as soon as i can."

jiae told him, and minsu assured her that it was only a six minute drive. he tried to ask what was wrong, but she couldn't make enough sense for him to understand.

when he arrived, jiae flung the door open and practically melted into his arms. it was strange, and she would have felt guilty if her mind wasn't forcing the worst thoughts into her head.

minsu closed and locked the door with one hand, keeping the other tight around jiae's body. she was shaking, and he took a quick look around the room to see a baseball bat and a knife on the table.

"jiae..." he began, gently pulling himself out of her grasp. "what is going on?"

it took her a few moments to calm down, but minsu managed to sit her onto the couch and got a glass of water for her. she took a deep breath and told him the story.

"his name is yeonwoo. there was a time when he was my step-brother, but that feels like ages ago." her fingers mindlessly played with a stray string on her sweater. "he had this... thing for me. like an obsession. after my dad died, his mother burned the will as a way to try and control me. she thought that she could force me into this family delusion, and when i refused..." she shook her head.

minsu's hand on her back wasn't as comforting as it should have been. she could still feel herself shivering beneath his touch. "i ran away. i went to the police and they granted me a restraining order, but i guess five years has already passed, because it expired today." jiae turned to face minsu, tears stinging her eyes. "i think they're coming for me."

"jiae," minsu began, his jaw set. "i know we didn't leave off on the best of terms, but i promise, i won't let anything bad happen to you. soyi will be here in an hour—she'll probably bring hyeyeong—but if you want me to tell them not to come—"

jiae straightened her back. "no, i want them here. i saw your contact first, so i called... but i want them here. i don't want to be alone." her thoughts filtered back to her boyfriend. she wished she could talk to him, but he wouldn't land for another two and a half hours. there was no point in bombarding him with worrying messages before he even got off the plane.

he waited with her in silence before there was another knock on the door. jiae jumped at the sound, but she could hear the girls on the other side and allowed minsu to open it for her.

immediately, the two ex-cafe employees stormed in and enveloped jiae in their tight hugs.

"oh god, i was so worried! i saw your missed call right as minsu texted. are you okay?" hyeyeong asked first, pulling away only to take jiae's face in her hands. "i swear, i'll end his fucking life if he attempts to walk through those doors."

soyi was nodding frantically against jiae's shoulder, her arms still embracing the older. "my brother is a cop! he can shoot that psychopath for you."

jiae couldn't help but laugh, and it was strangely comforting. she'd been so tense since receiving those texts that it was nice to relax a bit.

peering over soyi's head, jiae saw minsu standing in the corner of the room. she caught his eye and quietly mouthed a quick, thank you.

his smile didn't quite reach his eyes, but she could tell he was trying. without a word, minsu pointed a thumb toward the door, and jiae nodded. he was going to stand guard for a bit, and the thought almost made her laugh again.

once soyi finally released her, jiae scooted for both girls to sit on the couch and took their hands in hers. "i'm sorry for scaring you both. i'm fine now, and i really appreciate you coming. i'm hoping you'll stay tonight..?"

soyi sat up with a gasp. "sleepover! i'm calling the girls."

"and miles," hyeyeong added.

"and miles!" the youngest beamed, her fingers flying across her phone screen. "jiae protection squad, assemble!"

•
I DIDNT REALIZE HOW LONG ITS BEEN OMG ❤️‍🔥 this ch took a dark turn i must have missed jihae more than i thought 😭

how are you all doing my loveliest loves?????